For The Prof That We Love.

For one who had not known him, he/she may have thought that he was just any other old man sitting in one peculiar fraternity "tambayan". "Sino yung matanda na laging nasa tambayan niyo at naglalaro ng baraha?", curious friends always ask. With so much pride, I can always answer.

Professor Dominador Ilejay Ilio BE'37, more popularly known as 'Prof' had moved on with the Lord in the morning of February 7, 2006. Prof had been with the fraternity ever since even after his retirement as an Engineering Professor (he was a former Engineering College Secretary). With such dedication to the fraternity, he was then dubbed as Mr. Beta Epsilon. Indeed, he has the complete database of the frat's history along with all of our names stored within his mind and his heart. Prof graduated with 2 degrees in Engineering, Civil and Geodetic. He was an exemplary scholar and student leader. In fact, among the prestigious awards offered in the College of Engineering graduation, the over-all student excellence award was named after him. He was an institution, not only for the frat but also for the whole college as well.

Prof was 'The Godfather' of our times. He was a man of veneration among us. He is a fixed figure within the frat. He had been with us always in the tambayan, playing contract bridge, his ultimate favorite card game. The residents played just as the alumni had played with him during their times. Bridge is a game of memory, no wonder he was still that sharp even as he had reached such old age.

I am very very fortunate to have known Prof and that he had been part of my college/frat life. Prof knew the great potentials in us. I had entered the frat relatively at an early stage, and he saw the potential in me. He saw the fire in my eyes and knew how promising I can be. Exactly what he had experienced with the now-big-shot brods who are now forever grateful to him. I'd like to live with that kind of expectation.

We all knew that Prof could not be here forever. The time has come, and we are equally happy for him. For sure, he would be enjoying his view over us. Nothing is more evident, for the Prof that we love.

A Betan is a Gentleman...

... is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny.

~John Cardinal Newman on a definition of a Gentleman.